The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

“Janamejaya said, ’There hath not been
born in our race a king who hath not sought the good
of his subjects or been loved by them. Behold
especially the conduct of my grandsires ever engaged
in great achievements. How did my father, blessed
with many virtues, meet with his death? Describe
everything to me as it happened. I am desirous
of hearing it from you!’

“Sauti continued, ’Thus directed by the
monarch, those councillors, ever solicitous of the
good of the king, told him everything exactly as it
had occurred.’

’And the councillors said, ’O king, that
father of thine, that protector of the whole earth,
that foremost of all persons obedient to the scriptures,
became addicted to the sports of the field, even as
Pandu of mighty arms, that foremost of all bearers
of the bow in battle. He made over to us all
the affairs of state from the most trivial to the most
important. One day, going into the forest, he
pierced a deer with an arrow. And having pierced
it he followed it quickly on foot into the deep woods,
armed with sword and quiver. He could not, however,
come upon the lost deer. Sixty years of age and
decrepit, he was soon fatigued and became hungry.
He then saw in the deep woods a high-souled Rishi.
The Rishi was then observing the vow of silence.
The king asked him about the deer, but, though asked,
he made no reply. At last the king, already tired
with exertion and hunger, suddenly became angry with
that Rishi sitting motionless like a piece of wood
in observance of his vow of silence. Indeed,
the king knew not that he was a Muni observing the
vow of silence. Swayed by anger, thy father insulted
him. O excellent one of the Bharata race, the
king, thy father taking up from the ground with the
end of his bow a dead snake placed it on the shoulders
of that Muni of pure soul. But the Muni spake
not a word good or bad and was without anger.
He continued in the same posture, bearing the dead
snake.’”

SECTION L

(Astika Parva continued)

’Sauti continued, ’The ministers said,
’That king of kings then, spent with hunger
and exertion, and having placed the snake upon the
shoulders of that Muni, came back to his capital.
The Muni had a son, born of a cow, of the name of
Sringin. He was widely known, possessed of great
prowess and energy, and very wrathful. Going (every
day) to his preceptor he was in the habit of worshipping
him. Commanded by him, Sringin was returning
home, when he heard from a friend of his about the
insult of his father by thy parent. And, O tiger
among kings, he heard that his father, without having
committed any fault, was bearing, motionless like
a statue, upon his shoulders a dead snake placed thereon.
O king, the Rishi insulted by thy father was severe
in ascetic penances, the foremost of Munis, the controller
of passions, pure, and ever engaged in wonderful acts.
His soul was enlightened with ascetic penances, and
his organs and their functions were under complete
control. His practices and his speech were both
very nice. He was contented and without avarice.
He was without meanness of any kind and without envy.
He was old and used to observe the vow of silence.
And he was the refuge whom all creatures might seek
in distress.